Puzzle



(ModeL) J. GQPRATT.

- PUZZLE.

No. 508,339. Patented Nov. 7, 1893;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN CALVIN PRATT, MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JOHN MORGAN, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,339, dated November 7, 1893.

Application filed June 14, 1893- Serial No. 477,524. (ModelJ To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN CALVIN PRATT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a puzzle adapted to be made of wire which is formedinto a series of overlapping and intertwining loops arranged to obstruct the passage or removal of a ring which is placed on the wire forming the puzzle and must be moved and manipulated in a certain way inorder to remove it.

In the drawings: Figure 1, is a plan view of the puzzle, and Fig. 2, a front view.

The puzzle consists essentially of a wire formed into one large handle loop with the free ends or prongs adjacent to each other and aseries of interlocking or intertwining smaller loops, the strands of which overlap each other and serve not only to obstruct the passage of the ring in certain directions but also serve to hold the two free ends of the large handle loop together or inother words prevent separation of the prongs.

In the drawings the two prongs or free ends of the large handle loop ,7 are shown at l and 13, and the ring which is to be removed is shown at 18. This is preferably elliptical though it may be egg shaped, the only re quirement being that it have a front pointed end by which it is adapted to be passed down or up through the various loops and also through the overlapping joints of the wire. Besides large handle loop 7 there are two smaller loops 3 and 4, the loop 3 inclosing or embracing the prong 13 while the loop 4, embraces the prong 1, thus serving to hold them against separating movement. In addition to these two loops 3, 4, is the supplemental loop 5, which overlies the loop 3, leaving two openings 9 and 14, on each side of the supplemental loop and at each end of the loop 3.

Starting at the point 1, the course of the wire may be followed out. It first passes under the extremity or portion 17 which terminates in the prong 13. Then it passes over the wire 3 of the loop 3, thus forming the joint 8, then under the base of the supplemental loop 5 and under the wire 3 of the loop 3. It

now makes a wide circuit to form the handle loop 7 and next passes to the rear through the loop 4 then around the point 1 and over the extremity 17 from which point it extends over the wire of the loop 4 making the joint 2 and from here it forms the loop 3 which encircles the prong 13 and is extended to form the overlying supplemental loop connecting with the loop 4 which terminates in the prong 13.

The general manipulation of the ring may be described as consisting in pushing the same between the various joints for which purpose the ring must be threaded through the loops from side to side in order to pass the obstructions formed by the joints.

The prongs of the wire extend upward on the face of the puzzle and may have small knobs or balls thereon.

In solving the puzzle the ring which normally lies against the joint at the prong 1, is moved along the wire 6 of the handle loop 7. This movement will be obstructed by the joint at 8 formed by the overlapping parts of the wire 6 and the wire 3 of the main loop 3. In order to pass this joint the forward pointed end of the ring is pushed betweenthe joint 2 instead of following the wire 6 directly. The ring is now on the upper side of the puzzle and it is now pushed down through the opening 9 at one side of the supplemental loop 5 and then hangs on the strand 6 pro ecting toward the back. It is now free to be moved around the handle loop 7 in the direction of the arrow 10, until it comes to the joint 11. It is now turned to the top of the puzzle and then pushed down through the opening 12 and can then move through the to the upper side of the puzzle it is now arrow 15 to the joint 2 where it is pushed down to hang from the back after which it may be moved through the joint 2 following the wire of loop 4 around to the joint 11, where the ring is turned to the upper side and is then put through the joint 11 and dropped to order to get it by the joint 1 which now ob-- structs the final movement of the ring. The ring is now on the upper side engaging the crotch 17. It is now dropped to rear in order to pass wire 3 which crosses the base of the prong 13 and the ring is now free to be removed by simply pushing it up through the opening 9 and along the prong 13 thus solving the puzzle.

I claim- 1. A puzzle consisting of a wire bent into the form of a loop 7 with its free ends adjacent to each other and a series of supplemental loops extending over and under the wire of the main loop adjacent to the ends and encircling said ends to hold them 1n place and the ring on the wire, substantially as described.

2. A puzzle consisting of a wire formed into a large loop 7, the two loops 3, 4 said loops encircling the free ends of the wire, the supplemental loop 5 and the ring on the wire, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN CALVIN PRATT. Witnesses:

HENRY E. COOPER, JAMES M. SPEAR. 

